| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Tao Teh King by Lao-tze: Of Tao's mighty deeds.
2. All things under heaven sprang from It as existing (and named);
that existence sprang from It as non-existent (and not named).
41. 1. Scholars of the highest class, when they hear about the Tao,
earnestly carry it into practice. Scholars of the middle class, when
they have heard about it, seem now to keep it and now to lose it.
Scholars of the lowest class, when they have heard about it, laugh
greatly at it. If it were not (thus) laughed at, it would not be fit
to be the Tao.
2. Therefore the sentence-makers have thus expressed themselves:--
'The Tao, when brightest seen, seems light to lack;
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Democracy In America, Volume 2 by Alexis de Toqueville: great difficulty in finding listeners, still more in finding
believers. When the conditions of men are almost equal, they do
not easily allow themselves to be persuaded by each other. As
they all live in close intercourse, as they have learned the same
things together, and as they lead the same life, they are not
naturally disposed to take one of themselves for a guide, and to
follow him implicitly. Men seldom take the opinion of their
equal, or of a man like themselves, upon trust. Not only is
confidence in the superior attainments of certain individuals
weakened amongst democratic nations, as I have elsewhere
remarked, but the general notion of the intellectual superiority
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Rinkitink In Oz by L. Frank Baum: their wicked enemies.
"We might have asked them, however, what they had
done with your poor parents," said Rinkitink.
"Never mind," answered Inga. "I am sure the White
Pearl will guide us aright."
For a time they proceeded in silence and then
Rinkitink began to chuckle with laughter in the
pleasant way he was wont to do before his misfortunes
came upon him.
"What amuses Your Majesty?" inquired the boy.
"The thought of how surprised my dear subjects would
Rinkitink In Oz |
